Citizen consumer and civic Action Group (CAG) celebrated 40 years of impactful civic and consumer advocacy in Chennai, reflecting on its legacy since 1985. Justice KP Sivasubramaniam highlighted CAG’s pioneering role, predating even the Consumer Protection Act.
CAG recently launched a report studying school zone safety around three Chennai schools. Despite living within walkable distances from the school, a significant number of parents interviewed for the study said that walking or cycling to school was unsafe. Speaking at the report launch, Mr. Bandi Gangadhar, IPS, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic-South) acknowledged unsafe school journeys, saying, “I will not allow my kids to cycle to school in current conditions”.
Under the PM Surya Ghar scheme, the Union government offers a subsidy of ₹30,000 per kilowatt for rooftop solar systems up to 3 kW. At a recent multistakeholder meeting organised by CAG in collaboration with TNPDCL, the utility committed to disbursing the subsidy within 15 days, provided there is effective coordination between vendors and consumers.
CAG is now a member of the State Consumer Protection Council. As one of 22 members comprising a broad spectrum of stakeholders representing consumer rights groups, public sector undertakings, regulatory bodies, industry chambers, and academia, the Council is dedicated to protecting the interests of consumers across the State.
A recent study by CAG highlights the need to strengthen climate literacy among Tamil Nadu MLAs, with many showing gaps in key environmental topics. The findings highlight the urgent need for educational intervention and policy alignment
CAG conducted a workshop on Tamil Nadu’s Road Safety Action Plan, where Transport Commissioner Shunchonngam Jatak Chiru highlighted the Rs 2,800 crore in unpaid e-challans, with a low recovery rate of 43-48% from commercial vehicles. The state plans to enhance road safety by establishing a dedicated authority and learning from successful models in other states.
A study by Citizen Consumer and Civic Action Group (CAG) reveals alarmingly low helmet compliance among children and adults in Tamil Nadu, with only 1 in 4 adult motorists wearing helmets. The report highlights the need for stricter enforcement and better helmet accessibility to reduce road fatalities.
Climate Literacy Conference 2024 saw the release of FOCUS for beginners, a climate literacy curriculum for primary aged children by Education Minister Thiru. Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi who also emphasized the importance of climate literacy among students.
A survey by the Citizen Consumer and Civic Action Group highlights several challenges with the MTC’s ‘Chennai Bus’ app, including freezing, inaccurate bus information, and GPS issues. Out of the 500 respondents surveyed, over 50% of MTC commuters have downloaded the app, only 7% actively use it.
A recent CAG survey reveals that only 25% of children in Chennai wear helmets while riding as pillion on two-wheelers, despite mandatory regulations. Challenges like finding suitable helmets, cost, and misconceptions about helmet necessity contribute to the low compliance rate.